Ehrenfried collects No. 100 as Maynard softball defeats West Boylston

Friday

Apr 28, 2017 at 12:53 PMMay 2, 2017 at 11:58 AM

Martin Renzhofer mrenzhofer@wickedlocal.com @mrenzhofer

In a repeat of a year ago, the Maynard softball team has shrugged off a slow start.

After losing their first two games, the Tigers are beginning to find their way, now having won four consecutive games, including Monday’s 7-0 victory at West Boylston. That victory came on the heels of a 9-3 win Friday against visiting Murdock to improve the team’s record to 4-2. More important, the Tigers are 3-0 in Mid Wach E play.

And Maynard’s junior shortstop Alyssa Ehrenfried also collected her 100th career hit, coming Monday with an RBI double to center.

"We’re getting better every single game, every single inning," Maynard coach Tricia Nicholson said. "The team is jelling. Every kid is putting some into every game."

Monday, Emily McNulty shook off some of her recent wildness in pitching a 3-hit gem. The senior struck out four, while also collecting three hits of her own to go with a run batted in.

Sam Dahill drove in two runs with two hits.

"She played great at third base," Nicholson said. "She got a lot of action at the hot corner."

Jordan Cedeno also drove in a pair of runs.

Against Murdock, the Tigers used a six-run fourth inning to take an 8-0 lead as McNulty pitched six innings.

For the first time, due mostly to weather, Nicholson was able to pitch someone other than McNulty, giving Kaitlyn Gargas an inning. The sophomore enjoyed a routine outing.

"I’m trying to give her confidence," Nicholson said. "We have not been able to play any junior varsity games, and I don’t want her just sitting on the bench."

McNulty and Ehrenfried each drove in a run in the Murdock game with Hannah Coleman, Ariana LaPusata and Sesha Manning contributing in the fourth-inning outburst.

"I’m learning, too," Nicholson said of her first season as Maynard coach. "I’m trying to do better, too."

On April 27, Maynard scored six runs in the fifth inning to blow open a close game with a 13-7 softball victory against Ayer-Shirley.

Ehrenfried drove in three runs in the second inning for Maynard with a double, while Dahill doubled home two more runs in the third inning.

McNulty had three hits and scored four runs, while also picking up the victory inside the pitching circle. McNulty struck out seven but also walked seven batters.